Ore concentrator



Feb. 21, 1939. c. M. FULLER ORE CONCENTRATOR Filed June 6, 1936 4Shets-Sheet l INVENTOR. cfimues' M. U R. BY 7 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 21, 1939. c FULLER 2,148,068

ORE CONCENTRATOR Filed June 6, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHQRLE aM. Fm. 1. ER

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 21, 1939. Q FULLER 2,148,068

ORE CONCENTRAT OR Filed June 6, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 K INVENTOR.

mm V. FULLER BY ATTORNEY.

Feb. 21, 1939. c M. FULLER 2,148,068

ORE CONCENTRATOR Filed June 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /6 e b o oIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA INVENTOR. CHHRLES M. FOLl-EE ATTORNEY PatentedFeb. 21, 1939 Q UNITED ST ATENT) omen Charles M; Fuller, Los Angeles,Calif., assignor to E. D. Wilkinson, Stockton, Calif.

Application June 6, 1936, Serial No. 83,908 12 laims.. (01. 209415) Thisinvention relates to ore concentrators and has for its objects theprovision of apparatus for handling value bearing vore in a drycondition for separating the heavier values therefrom by pneumatic meansin combination with .ore concentrating tables having tensioned' membranetops and .rifl les arranged for entrapping the values from ore passingover such-tops and means for releasing the entrapped values to preventexcessive accumulation of values with the tailings. Other objects arethe provision of means for facilitating the separation of so calledflour gold from sand or ore and for accelerating the separation of allvalues of various sizes from the 'ore. Other objects and advantages willappearin the drawings and description annexed hereto. v

In the drawings,

broken away to reveal several of my improved ore concentrating tables. v

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2,-2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary. sectional view showing theconstruction of the tables in detail, and also the air lines connectingwith the tables and the ore feedingarrangement for feeding ore tothe'tables. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through enactthe tables along a line 1-4 of Fi 3. I Fig. '5 is a. fragmentarysectional view taken through one of the tables along the line-5'-5 ofvFig. 3, omitting the riflle.

Fig. 6' is a plan view of one of the tables on one side-of the centralair line extending between the two rows of tables, with a portion of thetable onthe opposite side of the air line in section. Portions arebroken away and in 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of another formof riiile, the same as that-of Fig. 8,

except for the .omission of the holes and. sawtooth or notched loweredge.

s In detail, each of the concentrator tables comprises a plurality'oftensioned strips l of fabric or other suitable porous membranousmaterial, said strips being disposed in an inclined plane surface of thestrips. Fig. 1 is an elevational, semi-diagrammatic view 20 of acomplete ore concentrating plant with part in a row extending from theelevated end of they plane toward the lowered end. The strips aretightly stretched over the upper edges of pairsof spaced plates 2, whichplates are disposed with their sides substantially vertical, said pairs7 5 of plates being spaced from the pair adjacent thereto, leaving avertically opening horizontal passageway 3 between each of said pairs ofplates and .the fabric strips secured thereto.

The marginsof the strips are drawn down over 10 the-outer sides of theplates of each pair and secured against the outer sides by metal strips5, 5'. The successive plates from the lower end of the table toward theelevated end are of progressively higher elevationat their upper edges15 so as to give the proper inclination to the upper surface of thetabletop as defined by the upper The metal clamping strip 5 is the stripengaging the plate 2 of lowest elevation of each pair and strip? is thestrip en- 20 gaging-the higher plate. The upper edge of metal strip 5is-slightly below the plane of the fabric strip that it serves to clampagainst the lower plate 2 and the upper edge of strip 5"is elevatedabove theplane of the strip-that it serves to 25 .2' and the end marginsof the fabric-strips, said 30 walls extending upwardly to engage attheir upper edges with a cover I, and-an end plate 8 extends verticallyacross the lower end of the table, but spaced therefrom to permittailings to pass between the end plate and table. An inclined bot- 5 tomplate 8' connects with the. end plate 8 at the upper" edge thereof andleads to a conveyor 9 for carrying the tailings away.

' end of the table and in a plane substantially 5o coincident with thearm [2.

The ends l4, ll of the riilie are in extension of the arm l2, and arecylindrical. Said ends ro tatably pass through side plates 6. The endIt" of each rillie is slightly longer than the end It 5 for apurposelater to be described. Along its lower edge, the arm II may be notchedor cut away to generally a saw-tooth formation as at l5 and openings"may be formed therethrough above the notches, if desired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the arm II of the-Y, is a sortof vertically disposed, horizontally elongated flange, and is theportion of the rifile that provides a working face on the side facingthe elevated end of the table for obstructing the downward passage ofthe heavier valuesover the table and the leg of the Y overhangs thestrip 5 and plate 2 adjacent the working face of the rifle to form asort of pocket I8 removed from the influence of-blasts of air that aredirected upwardly through the fabric strips I, as will be explainedlater.

,On the ends I4 of the riflles are vertically extending crank arms I9,said arms being pivotally connected at their upper ends to an elongatedbar slanted to the same degree as the table, the upper end of said barbeing at the head of the table or elevated end thereof, and the lowerend being adjacent the lower end of the table. A lever 2|, adjacent thelower end of the bar, projects vertically through a slot in cover 1, andis pivotally connected, at 22 to.the bar, and to side plate 5 at 22, forrevolving all the riiiles simultaneously, thereby lifting the flange IIof the rifiles to allow the values adjacent the working face thereof tofall, through space 3 between the adjacent pairs of plates 2, to aninclined chute 23 leading outwardly at 24 through the bottom plate 5'for collecting on a conveyor or a suitable container, not shown.

It is important to note that the position of the upper edge of strip 5,below the plane of the fabric strip I adjacent thereto, precludes anychance of small particles of gold or other values becoming lodgedagainst the working face of flange II in such a manner as to prevent therelease of such values upon revolving the rifile to raise flange IIrelative to strip 5.

While I show the flange II with a notched lower edge for continuously"bleeding values into space 3, thelower edge of the flange may bestraight, and spaced from strip 5 by means of an adjustable bolt on abracket 3| at the upper end of the table (see Fig. 3) which bolt engagesat its outer end the upper end of bar 20 that connects the crank arms.The riflies tend to drop automatically to close along adjacent edges offlanges II and strips 5, even when ore is passing over the tables,hence-by adjusting bolt 30, and locking it by nuts, as shown, in anadjusted position, a small width slot or a large one may be maintainedbetween strips 5 and flanges II, respectively, and this adjustablefeature is desirable even when the lower edges of the flanges arenotched. The openings in the flanges above the notches serve asauxiliary "bleed" means for use as such in certain cases where theflanges are relatively wide and are less frequently raised to pass theentrapped values to space 3.

Below the fabric strips I, and extending longitudinally of each table isan air conduit 32 (Fig. 5), which conduit is cut away, at those portionsbetween the plates 2 of each pair of plates, on the upper side thereofso as to permit free communication of air between the conduit and thearea below each of the fabric strips I, while below the riiiies, orbetween the adjacent plates of pairs of plates, the top of the conduitis closed by an inverted V-shaped top 32 so that values released to fallinto space 3 will be deflected to opposite lateral sides of the conduitfor falling onto the bottom 23 for discharge through opening 24.

The vertical cross-sectional area of conduit 32 progressively decreasesfrom the end thereof adjacent the elevated end of the table toward thelower end, which lower end is provided with a valve 33 for regulatingthe effective pressure or suction force of air in the conduit accordingto whichever is applied.

At their upper ends the conduits 32 connect respectively with valves 34,that are fitted with power operated rotary valve members laterdescribed, and an air.pressure line 35 extending along the row of valvescommunicates with each of the valves, a power operated blower 38 beingqperatively connected to line 35 at one end thereof as seen in Fig. 1.

Above the valves 34 and communicating therewith is an air suctionconduit 31. This conduit has straight sides and an inverted V-shapedtop, the sides of which are provided with openings 38, each of whichcommunicates. with the area above the fabric strips I and cover I. Asuction blower 39 serves to produce suction in said conduit 31 and todraw dust from above strips I through openings 38 for discharge toastack 38 or dust collector,

The valves 34 are each fltted with a horizontaL'cyIindrical valve member40 (Fig. 6), which members are secured on a horizontal, rotatablymounted shaft 4| that extends through opposite sides of the valvecasings respectively and which shaft is rotated through suitablereduction gearing 43 at one end thereof, said gearing being driven fromthe motor 44 of the suction blower or by a separate motor, if desired,the shaft normally being rotated at about 150 R. P. M.

Each of the valve members 40 is divided by a vertical partition 42, andthe cylindrical wall at opposite sides of the partition is formed withopenings 45, 45, one opening at each side. Ports 41, 45 are formed inopposite lateral side walls of the valve 34 and a vertically downwardlydirected port 49 is formed in the bottom wall of the valve casing. Ports41, 43 are adapted to register with both of the openings 45, 46 uponrotation of the valve member as said openings pass the ports, but theport 45 will register with opening 45 only. The ports 41, 48 communicatewith conduits 32 that extend below the fabric strips I of the tables,while port 49 communicates with the air pressure line 35 only.

The upper side of the valve body is formed with a port 50 off-setrelative to port 49 to communicate with the opening 46 only, when thebody is rotated to bring the opening over the port. Said port 50communicates with the air suction conduit 31.

The openings 45, 45 are of a size relatively, and are positionedrelatively around the cylindrical member 40, so as to form an alternatepressure and suction communication between pressure line 35, suctionconduit 31, and the air conduits 32 below strips I of the tables, as themember 40 is rotated. Y

Ore is fed onto the tables through openings 5| at the lower edges of aninverted V-shaped bottom 52 that is spaced above the inverted V-shapetop of suction conduit 31, from which openings vertical passageways 53lead to over the elevated ends of the tables for discharge thereon.Inclined side walls 54 extend upwardly and outwardly of the upper ends01 the passageways, which inclined Feed to said passageways iscontrolled by sliding gates 55, operated for opening and closing, bypivotally connected links 56, mounted on brackets 51, as best shown inFig. 2.

Any suitable means may be used for delivering ore to said passageways,such as conventional elevator 58 feeding to a spout 59 that dischargesinto an inclined distributing screen 60. f

In operation, it will be seen that as ore'is fed onto the fabric stripsof the tables for passage thereover and over the rifles to the lowerends of the tables, the ore will be-subject to intermittent upwardblasts of air passing through the strips, causing agitation of the oreand a lifting of the lighter particles with a settling of the heavierparticles to the upper surface of the strips of fabric. This is commonpractice.

Heretofore considerable loss of values has resulted from the piling upof values and ore along the working face of the rifles, with the resultthat some of the values go over the rifles and are discharged with thetailings, and also the fine flour gold, where gold comprises the values,is also carried upwardly above the upper edges of the rifles. If thegold particles, which are heavier than the valueless ore, are maintainedsuiiiciently close to the fabric to be caught by the rifles, and arethereafter out of the influence of the upward force of the air blastspassing through V the fabric, and are removed from the path of travel ofthe main body of ore, they will be saved fromloss with the tailings. Itis these things that I accomplish, since by immediately changing theforce below the fabric ore supporting top of the table from pressure tovacuum or suction, the finer particles of gold that would ordinarily bekept in suspension above the top by reason of the residual air pressuremaintained between blasts are quickly brought back to against thefabric, or at least below the level of the top edges of the rifles andwhen these particles work downwardly on the table to the working face ofthe rifles, they will accumulate against the working faces of the riflesrespectively and in the dead air space i8 where the blasts of air willnot affect them. From this pocket they will continuously filter betweenthe rifles and metal strips 5 to space 3, from which space they arecarried away for further treatment or for storage. When ore isparticularly adapted for use with dry ore, by

the dry process of concentrating values which differs considerably fromthe wet processes, al-

though the use of concentrating tables including rifles is common inboth processes.

I am not aware of there having been any previous attempts to carry thedust away from the tables of dry concentrators and to utilize thisfeature to augment the effect of the blasts of air used to agitate theore and to separate the lighter material from the values. In my device,the fact that there are periods when suction is applied above and belowthe table top at the same time does not neutralize the effect of thesuction below the table in keeping the values close to the table,

since the air conduit below the table top is fully enclosed and thelayer of ore on the table is of a material thickness to tend to form atop seal over' the top of the table, while the area over the table isnot so enclosed as air is free to enter through slots in the cover thatpass the rifle operating handles and also air may enter through thepassageway that carries the tailings away. But the suction force abovethe tables is suflcient to carry away light dust that would otherwiseaccumulate and be detrimental to health as well as detrimental to theefficiency of the apparatus'for concentrating the values.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In ore concentrating apparatus, an inclined ore concentrating tableadapted to support ore thereon for movement on the upper surface thereofin a direction from the elevated end of the table toward the lowered endthereof, a plurality of elongated rifles adjacent the upper surface ofthe table extending transversely of the ble for allowing obstructed oreon the table to pass the rifles, and means for so moving said rifles,said rifles being spaced 8. small distance apart relative to the lengthof the rifles and the space between adjacent rifles being unobstructedfor free movement of ore on the table.

2. In ore concentrating apparatus, an ore concentrating table providedwith a top comprising a plurality of relatively narrow spaced strips ofporous tensioned fabric arranged respectively with a flat side uppermostand with the flat upper sides disposed in an inclined plane for formingan inclined upper surface on said top, adapted to support value bearingore thereon for normal directional movement from the elevated end of thetop toward the lowered end, said strips extending transversely of saidnormal directional movement of the ore whereby one side edge of eachstrip is elevated above the opposite side edge thereof, means forsupporting said. strips spaced apart, and movable means, includingupstanding rifles, arranged for obstructing free passage of ore over thespaces between adjacent strips to separate ore values upon movement ofore over said strips, the upper sides of the strips being unobstructedfor free movement of the ore thereon between adjacent rifles.

3. In ore concentrating apparatus, an ore concentrating table providedwith a top comprising a plurality of spaced, relatively narrow strips ofa porous tensioned fabric arranged respectively with a flat sideuppermost and with the flat upper sides disposed in an inclined planefor forming an inclined upper surface on said top, adapted to supportvalue bearing ore thereon for normal directional movement from theelevated end of the top toward the lower end, said strips extendingtransversely of said normal directional movement of the ore whereby oneside edge of each strip is elevated above the opposite side edgethereof, means for supporting said strips spaced apart, and means,including upstanding rifles, arranged for obstructing free passage ofore to the spaces between adjacent strips upon movement of ore over saidstrips, the upper sides of the strips between rifles being unobstructedfor free movement of the ore over the strips to the rifles, means formoving said rifles relative to the strips in a direction for permittingore to pass by the riiiles to the spaces between the strips.

4. In ore concentrating apparatus, an ore concentrating table providedwith a top comprising a plurality of spaced, relatively narrow, stripsof porous tensioned fabric arranged respectively with a flat sideuppermost and with the flat up per sides disposed in an inclined planefor forming an inclined upper surface on said top, adapted to supportvalue bearing ore thereon for normal directional movement from theelevated end of the top toward the lower end, said strips extendingtransversely of said normal'directional movement of the ore whereby oneside edge of each strip is elevated above the opposite side edgethereof, means for supporting said strips spaced apart, and means,including upstanding riilles, arranged for obstructing free passage ofore to the spaces between adjacent strips upon movement of ore-over saidstrips, the upper sides of the strips between riilles being unobstructedfor free movement of the ore over the strips to the riilies, means forcausing pulsations of air upwardly through said strips, and means,adjacent each of the riiiles on the side thereof facing generally towardthe elevated side edge of the strip positioned adjacent thereto arrangedand adapted for obstructing the upward passage of air for creating adead air space adjacent'each of the riflles.

5. In ore concentrating apparatus, a table having an inclined topadapted for supporting value bearing ore thereon for movement from theelevated end in a direction toward the lowered end, said top beingformed with elongated, vertically directed, openings extending in adirection transversely of. the normal directional movement of the ore,riilie bars extending longitudinally of the openings and thereover,bearings revolvably mounting said riiiie bars respectively at theiropposite ends, at the inclined side edges of the table, means arrangedfor revolving said bars therein about axes extending longitudinally ofthe bars, a portion of each of said rime bars being off-set relative tothe axis of rotation thereof, from side to side of the table top anddisposed adjacent an edge of the opening adjacent the riiile, wherebyupon revolving the bar said pot-'- tion will be moved away from the edgeof the opening for permitting ore to pass between said portion andedge'and into said opening.

6. In a construction as defined in claim 5. said top being of poroustensioned fabric, suction means above said top continuously operativefor drawing dust from above the top, and air pressure means operativebelow said top arranged for causing upwardly directed blasts of airthrough said fabric at intervals.

7. In a concentrating apparatus of the character described, a tablehaving an inclined top of porous tensioned fabric adapted for supportingore thereon for movement normally in a direction fromtheelevated end ofthe table toward the lowered end, a plurality of elongated rifiiesextending across the top of the table in a direction from side to sideof the table transversely of the normal directional movement of the ore,each of said riiiles being formed'with a flange portion extendinglongitudinally thereof and in a generally vertically disposed plane andprojecting above the plane of the top for providing a working face alongone side thereof fac-' ing the elevated end of the top, the lower edgeofsaid flange portion being normally disposed adjacent the top of saidtable whereby said porsaid portion extending substantially 2,14s,oes

tion will normally obstruct the free movement of ore over the top, meanspivotally mounting said riilies respectively for movement of the flangeportion generally vertically relative to the top ofthe table in anarcuate' path for freeing ore engaging along the working face thereof,and means adjacent said riilles arranged and adapted for passing the orethus freed in a direction away from the table top.

8. In ore concentrating apparatus. a plurality of separate, similarlyinclined, concentrating ta-- bles arranged in a row with their elevatedand lowered ends respectively disposed in horizontal alignment, the topsof said tables being formed of tensioned porous fabric, an air suctionand an air pressure line extending longitudinally of the row of tables,cover means spaced above the tops of the tables including wallsextending downwardly to the sides of the tables and to the lowered endsof the tables enclosing the area above the tables and means enclosingthe area below the tops of said tables, the air pressure linecommunicating with the enclosed area below said table tops and the airsuction line communicating with the area above the tables, means forfeeding ore onto the elevated ends of the tables and means for carryingore away from the lowered ends of the tables, a plurality of riillesextending across the tables and projecting above the fabric top thereofarranged for obstructing the passage of heavier ore values from theelevated to the lowest ends of the tables, the tops of the tables beingprovided with openings therethrough for permitting passage of the orevalues therethrough to below the tops respectively, said riillesnormally substantially closing said openings, and means forsimultaneously elevating the riilles of each of the tables foruncovering said openings whereby the ore values accumulated against saidriilies will fall through said openngs.

9. In a concentrating apparatus of the character described, a tablehaving an inclined top of porous tensioned fabric adapted for supportingore thereon for movement normally in a direction from the elevated endof the table toward the lowered end, a plurality of elongated riillesextending across the top of the table in a direction from side to sideof the table transversely of the normal directional movement of the ore,each of said rifiles being formed with a flange portion extendinglongitudinally thereof and ina generally vertically disposed plane andprojecting above the plane of the top for providing a working face alongone side thereof facing the elevated end of the top, the lower edge ofsaid flange portion being normally disposed adjacent the top of saidtable whereby said flange portion will normally obstruct the freemovement of ore over the top, means mounting said riiilw respectivelyfor movement of the flange portion generally vertically relative to thetop of the table for freeing ore engaging along the working facethereof, and means adjacent said rifiles arranged and adapted forpassing the ore thus freed in a direction away from the table top, themeans mounting said riflles including aligned short stub shaftsprojecting from opposite ends of the riiiles, bearings rotatablymounting said shafts, said shafts being off-set relative to the flangeportion of the riflles respectively and means for revolving the rifllesincluding their flange portions on said shafts whereby the flangeportion of each riilie will move in 2,148,068 an arcuate' path of travelaround the axis of rdtation. of the shafts at its opposite ends.

10. In ore concentrating apparatus, an elongated table formed with aplurality of pairs of spaced, elongated plates disposed with their sidesvertical and substantially parallel and extending transversely of thelength of the table, a tensioned sheet of porous fabric extending acrossthe top edges of each of the pairs of plates and secured thereto,leaving an elongated open space between said adjacent pairs of plates,an elongated rifiie bar over each of the openings between the pairs ofplates, said plates being arranged to support the fabric sheets onadjacent bars thereof in a single inclinedplane extending longitudinallyof the table and said riiiie bars each being formed with a flangeportion therealong extendmg vertically upwardly from} the side of theopening toward the elevated end of the plane in which the sheets offabric are disposed with the lower edge of the flange portion adjacentthe upper edge of one of said plates thereby providing a working facefor ore on the sheet on the side of the flange facing toward theelevated end of the sheet, means for supporting said flange portions atvarious points of elevation above the plane in which the sheets aredisposed for permitting a relatively small amount of material on saidsheets to pass between said flange portions to the open space betweenthe pairs of plates, the working faces of the flange portions being vexposed from end to end of the rifiles for free passage of ore on thesheets past the flange portions at any point therealong when the flangeportions are supported elevated above the plane of the sheets.

11. In combination with a construction as set forth in claim -10, meansfor causing intermittent blasts of air below said fabric sheets, andbetween the plates of each of said bars, for upward movement of the airthrough the fabric sheets.

12. In ore concentrating apparatus, a plurality of separate similarlyinclined concentrating tables arranged in a row with their elevated andlowered ends respectively disposed in horizontal alignment, the tops ofsaid tables being formed of tensioned porous fabric, an air suction andan air pressure line extending longitudinally of the row of tables,cover means spaced above the tops of the tables, including wallsextending downwardly to the tables and to the lowered ends of the tablesenclosing the area above the tables and means enclosing the area belowthe tops of said tables, said air pressure line connecting with theenclosed area below the tables, means for feeding ore-into the elevatedends of the tables and means for carrying ore away from the lowered endsof the tables, a plurality of riilies errtending across the tablesprojecting above the fabric top thereof, arranged for obstructing thepassage of heavier ore values from the elevated to the lowered ends ofthe tables, the tops of said tables being provided with openingstherethrough for permitting passage of said ore values therethrough tobelow said top, said riflies normally, substantially closing saidopenings, and means for simultaneously elevating the riflles of each ofthe tables for uncovering said openings whereby the ore valuesaccumulated against said riflies will fall through said openings.

CHARLES M. FULLER.

